Individually packed dried fruit is convenient for a half-term outing if you plan to serve it with a meal: the NHS advises against giving dried fruit as a between-meal snack to reduce the risk of tooth decay. Compare the weight of each pack with the NHS 30g dried-fruit reference for one 5 A Day portion, then check the exact product’s ingredients and allergen statements; a small box is not automatically a 30g portion.
An individual pack can go into a picnic or packed lunch without dividing a larger bag. Plan to serve it with the meal: the NHS advises having dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce tooth-decay risk.
A labelled 14g box gives you a different amount from a 30g or 35g pack. Check the weight of each individual pack, particularly when buying for several children or several outings.
Read the label for the exact flavour and format. The ASDA mixed-fruit boxes list sulphites, while Tesco’s fruit-and-nut pot contains almonds and cashews; a category name alone cannot tell you what is in a pack.
Decide when the fruit will be served, then compare the amount in each pack and its label with the needs of everyone eating it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Mealtime use | Plan which meal the pack will accompany. The NHS advises serving dried fruit at mealtimes, not as a between-meal snack, to reduce tooth-decay risk. | I want something compact for a picnic or packed lunch, rather than a pack for repeated snacking between meals. |
| Pack size | Read the grams per individual box or bag, not just the multipack total. The NHS says 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion; listed formats include 14g boxes and a 35g single pack. | For several days out, separate packs would be useful. I also want to know whether each one holds 14g, 30g or another labelled amount. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the exact variant’s ingredients and both contains and may-contain statements. ASDA’s mixed-fruit boxes list sulphites; Tesco’s mango pack lists sulphur dioxide and may-contain allergens, while its fruit-and-nut pot contains almonds and cashews. | Before packing food for a child or group, I need to check that the particular product suits everyone who will eat it. |
The NHS reference is 30g of dried fruit, but ASDA and Sainsbury’s list multipacks with 14g individual boxes.
Read the weight per box. If you are using the NHS 5 A Day reference, compare the amount you intend to serve with 30g rather than relying on the box count.
The NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than as a between-meal snack to reduce tooth-decay risk.
Put the pack with a picnic or packed meal instead of treating its portable format as a reason to serve it throughout the day.
ASDA’s mixed-fruit boxes list sulphites, Tesco’s fruit-and-nut pot contains almonds and cashews, and some Whitworths SHOTS varieties contain milk, wheat or soya.
Check the exact flavour and its contains and may-contain statements, especially when packing for more than one person.
Tesco advises that food ingredients, nutrition information and allergen details can change when products are reformulated.
Use the listing to compare formats, then read the physical pack’s ingredients, allergen statements, weight and best-before information before serving.
Whitworths lists individually portioned dried-fruit formats, including a 1DERS Fruit Variety Pack of 4 x 5 x 30g packs.
Tesco lists a 35g dried-mango snack pack and a separate 55g fruit-and-nut pot.
ASDA lists Mixed Fruit Snack Boxes as 10 separate 14g boxes.
Sainsbury's lists Mini Snack Raisins in a 12 x 14g format.
M&S lists Taste Buds 10 Raisin Snack Boxes and other fruit-snack combinations.
These dried-fruit options include multipacks, individual packs and individually wrapped fruit for taking with a half-term meal. Compare their stated weights and ingredients before choosing a format.
No image available
The 12 individual 14g portions offer a measured amount to pack with meals on different days. Each 14g box is below the NHS 30g dried-fruit 5 A Day reference; check the current pack label for ingredients and allergens.
No image available
The individually wrapped prunes can be packed separately with a meal. The bag is labelled 500g, but check the amount you serve if you want to compare it with the NHS 30g dried-fruit 5 A Day reference; the weight of an individual prune is not stated here.
No image available
This single 10g pack is an option when you need one pack rather than a multipack. Its labelled weight is below the NHS 30g dried-fruit reference; read the current pack label for ingredients and allergens.
No image available
The 16 individual 16g packs can be divided between packed meals across several outings. This product contains added sugar, so check its ingredients if you want a plain-fruit option; each pack is below the NHS 30g dried-fruit reference.
No image available
The 12 small bags offer separate packs to take with meals. The 80g figure is for the product as a whole, not one bag; the product contains added sugar, so check the individual-pack details and ingredients before choosing it.
The NHS says 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion. Check the weight you serve rather than assuming that one pack equals one portion: individual packs in the formats discussed here include 14g boxes and a 35g bag.
The NHS advises having dried fruit at mealtimes, not between meals, to reduce the risk of tooth decay. Pack it with lunch or another meal rather than offering the grab bag for grazing throughout an outing.
Check the weight of each individual pack, the ingredients, and both contains and may-contain allergen statements on the exact product. Tesco advises reading the physical food label because product information can change.
No. Tesco’s 55g fruit-and-nut pot contains almonds and cashews, so its ingredients and allergens differ from those of a plain-fruit pack. Choose by the exact product label, particularly when packing for someone with an allergy.